Understanding your options
View the registration status comparison table for an at-a-glance understanding of your registration options. If you have questions, contact BCCNM Registration Services at
registermidwives@bccnm.ca or 604.742.6200 (1.866.880.7101 toll-free within Canada only).
- Registration status comparison
-
|
Practising |
Non-practising |
Former registrant |
2022-23 annual fee |
$751.90
|
$94.90 |
$0 |
Am I registrant of BCCNM? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Can I practise in B.C.? |
Yes |
No |
No |
Can I provide second birth attendant (SBA) services? |
Yes |
Yes
|
No |
Will I get communication from BCCNM? |
Yes. You receive the registrant newsletter and any special bulletins. |
Yes. You receive the registrant newsletter. Special bulletins as applicable. |
No |
Can I still call myself a midwife? |
Yes. You can use:
- Registered midwife
- Midwife
- RM
|
No. However, you can use the follow titles depending on your qualifications:
- non-practising registered midwife
- Non-practising RM
- Non-practising midwife
|
No. You cannot use the title "midwife," "registered midwife," the abbreviation "RM," or any of the options in the non-practising category. |
Can I be a member of a BCCNM committee? |
Yes, if you are in good standing with the college (subject to specific committee composition requirements). |
Yes, if you are in good standing with the college (subject to specific committee composition requirements). |
No
|
Leaving practice
If you are leaving practice, there are considerations that you must take into account before your leave date. Please submit applications to cancel your registration or convert to non-practising registration at least two weeks before your intended leave date. BCCNM cannot backdate applications. If you cancel your registration, you may be eligible for a refund on your registration fee.
Please note: If you choose to reinstate your practising midwife registration, you'll need to meet
Quality Assurance program requirements for continuing competencies and clinical experience. Leaves greater than 36 months may result in you being unable to meet the clinical experience requirement for reinstatement.
- Convert to non-practising registration
-
Apply: Complete and submit the
Application for Non-practising Midwife Registration to registermidwives@bccnm.ca.
Pay fees: Pay the $115+GST reinstatement fee for non-practising midwives.
Notify Clients: Notify clients of change to non-practising registration.
Records
- All original retained records of clinical care are securely transferred to another registered midwife who is practicing midwifery in BC and retain documentation of the transfer.
- When a shared care midwifery practice closes, all midwives who provided care to a client shall have access to the client's original records or a complete copy of the records.
- Inform BCCNM where the client records will be stored and how they can be accessed. If the midwife is leaving the community where the client's care was provided, and the midwifery practice remains in that community, consideration should be given to having the client's original records remain in the community where care was provided.
- Resign your registration and become a former registrant
-
Apply: Complete and submit the
Application for Resignation of Registration to Registration Services at registermidwives@bccnm.ca.
Notify Clients: Notify clients of your resignation.
Records
- All original retained records of clinical care are securely transferred to another registered midwife who is practicing midwifery in BC and retain documentation of the transfer.
- When a shared care midwifery practice closes, all midwives who provided care to a client shall have access to the client's original records or a complete copy of the records.
- Inform BCCNM where the client records will be stored and how they can be accessed. If the midwife is leaving the community where the client's care was provided, and the midwifery practice remains in that community, consideration should be given to having the client's original records remain in the community where care was provided.
- Leaving practice due to disability/illness
-
Check with your disability insurance company before you make changes to your status. Some disability carriers may require you to maintain practising or non-practising registration to receive benefits.
Returning to practice
If you are a former or non-practising BCCNM registrant, you must submit a reinstatement application to return to practice. BCCNM recommends submitting applications for registration a minimum of 4-6 weeks in advance of your anticipated registration date. If you believe your application may be considered complex, you may wish to submit your application earlier.
Important: Continuing competency requirements are changing
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certification requirements were temporarily changed to completion every three years for registration renewal in 2021 and 2022. Effective April 1, 2023, the continuing competencies requirement will return to the schedule listed in the
Policy on Continuing Competencies. The competency requirements you must meet depend on when you apply:
- Before April 1, 2023
- The table below reflects temporary requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continuing competencies
|
Requirement
|
Meet requirement/eligible to renew
|
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
|
Issued within 3 years
|
Issued within 3 years of application date
|
Emergency skills (ES)
|
Issued within 3 years
|
Issued within 3 years of application date
|
Fetal Health Surveillance (FHS)
|
Issued with 3 years
|
Issued within 3 years of application date
|
Neonatal resuscitation program
|
Issued with 3 years
|
Issued within 3 years of application date
|
*Please note: most CPR certificates accepted by BCCNM now recommend annual recertification. If you complete a BCCNM approved CPR course that does not require or recommend annual certification, it is considered valid for a maximum of 2 years.
Important: To renew your registration in Feb/March 2023, you will need to meet the requirements listed in the
Policy on Continuing Competencies (see “on or after April 1, 2023” below for dates).
- After April 1, 2023
-
Continuing competencies
|
Requirement
|
Meet requirement/eligible to renew
|
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
|
Current certification*
|
Issued on or after April 1, 2021 OR April 1, 2022
|
Emergency skills (ES)
|
Completion every 2 years
|
Issued on or after April 1, 2021
|
Fetal Health Surveillance (FHS)
|
Completion every 2 years
|
Issued on or after April 1, 2021
|
Neonatal resuscitation program
|
Certification annually
|
Issued on or after April 1, 2022
|
*Please note: most CPR certificates accepted by BCCNM now recommend annual recertification. If you complete a BCCNM approved CPR course that does not require or recommend annual certification, it is considered valid for a maximum of 2 years.
How to reinstate your registration
- 1. Prepare your documents
- To avoid delays in processing your application, prepare the following documents before you start your application:
-
Notarized name change document or marriage certificate: If you have changed your name since you last held practising registration with us.
Learn more about accepted forms of identification
-
Proof of completion of competency requirements: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), emergency skills (ES), fetal health surviellance (FHS), and Neonatal resuscitation (NRP).
-
New registrant documentation: If you were subject to the
Policy on New Registrant Requirements and did not complete the requires prior to leaving practice, you will need to submit an updated
New Registrant Mentorship Agreement.
-
Certificate of completion for Opioids and Benzodiazepines: Safe prescribing for Midwives course (if applicable)
Former registrants: Additional documents required
-
Identification: Two notarized copies of two pieces of identification if you have not previoulsy submitted these to BCCNM as part of an application.
Learn more about accepted forms of identification.
-
Letters of standing: A letter of standing and professional conduct/verification of registraton from any regulator with which you have held or currently hold registration. This must be received by BCCNM directly from the regulator.
-
Criminal record check: You will be asked to consent to a criminal record check.
- 2. Complete your application and pay fee
-
- 3. BCCNM review
- BCCNM Registration Services will assess your application to determine whether you meet the requirements for reinstatement. The requirements for reinstatement include that you:
- Were in compliance with all
Quality Assurance program requirements at the time you last held practising registration
- Meet the clinical experience requirement
- Have maintained your knowledge, skills and abilities as a midwife, or have successfully completed an exam or upgrading of your knowledge, skills or abilities
- Are of good character, including passing the
criminal record check (if applicable)
- Are fit to practice, and
- Have paid any outstanding fines or fees
Note: If your registration was cancelled or suspended following an inquiry or discipline committee decision or you have a criminal charge since you last held practising registration you will be asked to provide additional information and evidence. Please contact the registration team for more information.
- 4. Registration Committee review/decision (if required)
- Some applications are complex and require review and decision by the Registration Committee.
Learn more about complex applications and Registration Committee review.
- 5. Application approved/pay registration fees
- If you meet the requirements for reinstatement, your application will be approved and you will be asked to pay your
practising registration fees
- 6. Professional liability insurance
- Obtain professional liability insurance from the
Midwives Association of BC.
- 7. Wait for confirmation of registration from BCCNM
- Once you have paid your registration fees, we will send you an email confirming that you have been granted practising registration. You must not practise as a midwife until you receive confirmation of registration.
Haven't received a confirmation email?
Registration will not be granted until your payment has been received. Before calling to check on the status of your application, please:
- Double-check that you submitted your application and that your payment went through
- Check your junk mail and spam folders